Our Team
We have a highly skilled team of passionate individuals who love what they do in caring for your pets!
The Cooke Veterinary Medical Center opened in Chesapeake, Virginia, in November 2002. The hospital was designed by Dr. Denette Cooke to offer patients and clients state-of-the-art, welcoming and comfortable surroundings while providing our guests with the highest quality, cutting-edge veterinary medicine available.
Our healthcare team has been meticulously chosen for their knowledge, passion, and love of veterinary medicine. Our team includes the following individuals who love to care for your pets:
Dr. Denette O. Cooke, DVM, CVA, CVMMP, CVBMA
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. Certified in Acupuncture, Chiropractic and Balance Method Acupuncture.
Dr. Denette Cooke was born and raised in the Virginia Beach area. She graduated from Berea College in Kentucky with a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry. She worked as an environmental and industrial chemist for several years before attending the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, where she graduated with a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine in 1996.
After working several years in the area, Dr. Cooke opened The Cooke Veterinary Medical
Center in 2002. She enjoys all aspects of general veterinary medicine, including surgery, dentistry, and internal medicine. Dr. Cooke especially LOVES working with senior patients and finding solutions to their unique needs and multi-disease processes. In order to offer the most comprehensive care to her patients, Dr. Cooke offers acupuncture, herbal medicine, and veterinary medical manipulation (similar to chiropractic) in addition to western treatments. She believes that blending all medical modalities is the best answer for most disease processes. She received her Certified Veterinary Acupuncture degree from Chi University in Reddick, Florida in 2008 and her Certified Veterinary Medical Manipulation degree from Integrative Veterinary Medical Institute in Reddick, Florida in 2018.
In 2022 Dr. Cooke achieved her certification in Balance Method Acupuncture, making her one of only a handful of Veterinarians in the WORLD that possess certification in this specialty.
She enjoys lecturing and teaching in the profession to spread awareness of the whole pet approach, integrative medicine and the melding of Eastern and Western medicine modalities to offer complete and comprehensive patient care. When not working or teaching, Dr. Cooke enjoys spending time with the human and non-human species in her life!!
Dr. Carolyn Edson, DVM
Dr. Edson grew up in Greenville, NC, graduating summa cum laude from East Carolina University with a double major in Biology and Chemistry. Her strong passion for all creatures led her to follow her dream of becoming a veterinarian. She worked as a veterinary technician for several years before attending NC State College of Veterinary Medicine and graduating in May 2017.
Dr. Edson loves to travel and, during the winter of 2015, volunteered in Africa working with 
several different species with a rescue organization in Tanzania. She has also completed a shelter medicine externship in Asheville, NC and a Dental externship in Durham, NC. She has a special interest in animal behavior, internal medicine, and surgery. Dr. Edson has worked in Ocean Isle Beach, Myrtle Beach and around Wilmington, NC and is very excited about joining our family here at Cooke Veterinary Medical Center!
During her free time, she enjoys the beach, live music, traveling and spending time with her two rescue dogs, Bailey and Titus and her husband, Aaron.
Dr. Angela Ives, PhD, DVM
Dr. Angela Ives was born in Chesapeake and grew up in Virginia Beach, where she graduated from First Colonial High School. She attended the College of William and Mary and graduated summa cum laude in 2013 with a major in biology. Dr. Ives taught undergraduate-level physiology at William and Mary before attending the College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech, where she graduated with her Ph.D. in virology and neuroscience in 2017 and her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2020.
Dr. Ives has special interest in exotic medicine and has completed externships at the National Zoo and the Bronx Zoo. She also completed a shelter medicine externship at the Humane Rescue Alliance in Washington, D.C., and has volunteered at the Virginia Beach SPCA. She loves to travel and volunteered for a summer at a wildlife rehabilitation and research center in Botswana. Dr. Ives is very excited to join the family at The Cooke Veterinary Medical Center!
During her free time, Dr. Ives enjoys spending time with family and friends, walking on the beach with her three rescue mutts, reading a good book, and traveling.
Dr. Rebecca Marr, DVM, CVA, CVCH, CVBMA
Dr. Rebecca Marr lives in the Williamsburg area with her husband, and her fur babies, a Rhodesian Ridgeback, Toy Fox Terrier, and her tabby cat. She grew up in Marietta, Ohio and studied zoology at The Ohio State University before being accepted to the College of Veterinary Medicine in her junior year of undergraduate training. In 2002, she graduated from The Ohio State University with her doctorate degree in veterinary medicine (DVM) before moving to Virginia Beach to begin her professional career.
She has worked in the Hampton Roads area as a small animal practitioner and also with the military. She enjoys all aspects of veterinary medicine including dentistry, surgery, preventative medicine, education, teaching, and overall health and wellness. She has worked as an emergency veterinarian, relief veterinarian, associate veterinarian, and also as a professional consultant and researcher.
Dr. Marr is excited to continue her studies with Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine to be able to offer more integrative treatment options to her patients. She has become certified by the Chi University as a Veterinary Acupuncturist and Chinese Veterinary Herbalist. In 2022 Dr. Marr also achieved certification in Balanced Method Acupuncture.
In her free time, she enjoys walking her dog, riding bikes, boating, kayaking, cooking, and socializing with friends and family.
Dr. Carin Cronin DVM
Dr. Cronin graduated from Cornell University School of Veterinary Medicine in 1994. Dr Cronin joined Cooke Vet in 2022. Her interests include improving the human-animal bond, animal dentistry and soft tissue surgery. Dr. Cronin is a master with the surgical laser!
Lisa Jones, Lead Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT)
I was born and raised in the Virginia Beach area. After graduating from Green Run High School,
I attended and graduated from Central Carolina Community College in 1984 with a degree as a Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT). Over the years I have worked in emergency and small animal practice in the Tidewater Area since that time. I have a special interest in Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, diet and nutrition and preventive medicine. I have been with Dr. Cooke since the practice opened in 2002. In my spare time, I practice Tai Chi. I have a various assortment of dogs, cats, and a few exotic animals.
Kim Uptegraph
Director, Client Services
I have been with the Cooke Vet family since 2009. I am the happy voice you hear at the other end of the phone! I have two children and a French bulldog named Breezy. I love everyone’s pet, although I am a little partial to Boxers and Frenchies!
Kyle Foley
Veterinary Assistant
I moved to Virginia in 2020 after helping run a dog rescue in Mississippi for nearly a decade. I love all animals, and I want my dedication to show through my work. I strive every single day to do all I can to help our doctors and technicians heal and care for every single animal that walks through our doors. I joined the Cooke Veterinary Medical Center team in 2020
Susan Heaton, Chief Operating Officer
Susan joined our team in early 2021. Susan grew up in Cary, NC, and her professional career has
taken her from Raleigh NC, to New York City, to Washington DC, to Wilmington NC and ultimately led her to this area. Susan brings an entrepreneurial mindset to our team and more than 20 years of diverse professional experience in strategic organizational and business development. Her prior experience -including building strong relationships, coaching, and elite executive team development- supports our commitment for continuous improvement and growth as we maintain our mission to remain on the cutting edge of innovation in our practice.
Susan has a deeply rooted passion for helping people and animals. This career choice is a perfect blend of both for her. In her spare time, Susan loves cycling, hiking, kayaking, travelling and spending time creating memories with her chosen family (both 2 and 4-legged) and friends.
Korbyn Denby
Veterinary Assistant
I joined the Cooke Vet team in 2018. I was accepted into, and have begun, my coursework in the LVT program at TCC. I’m excited to further my education on this amazing career path.
I am from NC and grew up in Currituck County. My passion for animals began when I was very young beginning with my first love, horses. In high school, I was very involved with FFA assisting with the care of our school animals which included goats, pigs and chickens. I also volunteered at the local veterinary clinic, which was when I realized that veterinary medical technology was a career that I wanted to pursue.
I recently moved to this area and am enjoying being closer to school and work!. I spend my free time with my family and friends at the beach with my favorite Shih-Tzu, Jinx.
Lisa Marie Gloria
Veterinary Assistant
I’ve been striving to get into the vet medicine field for a while now, and thankfully here at Cooke Vet, they took a chance on me! Being given this opportunity as a Veterinary Assistant, this has only convinced me more that this field is for me! I have decided to pursue a career as a DVM and am currently working on my prerequisites to apply to vet school. I’m very excited for this new chapter here at Cooke Vet as well as my journey to become a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.
Diana Tenerowicz
Lead Medical Records Technician
I have been working in the veterinary medical field since 1998. I previously worked with Lisa (Jones) and Dr Cooke early in our careers and am excited to join forces with them once again! I joined the Cooke Vet team in November of 2021 after years of working in emergency veterinary medicine. I currently have an awesome pit bull named Jade who keeps me on my toes! I enjoy coming to work here and seeing our awesome clients and their furry family members and working with everyone here at Cooke Vet.
Makayla Clark
Veterinary Assistant
I started at Cooke Vet in February of 2019 as a cleaner. Within a year, I had worked my way up to being a full-time veterinary assistant! Not only am I a vet assistant, but I am also well versed in many other areas of the hospital. You may have been greeted by me a time or two when calling the office, or I may have assisted your adorable pet in surgery.
There is nothing more rewarding than being able to offer care and attention to your pets. This is why I absolutely LOVE my job!!
Crys Garris
Veterinary Assistant
I have been working with animals since 2002 and started my journey into vet medicine in 2012. I am very excited to be a part of the Cooke Vet team and find ways to use both Eastern & Western medicine to help heal our furry friends. In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my Chihuahuas and being outdoors as much as possible!
Kathie Weber
Veterinary Assistant/Receptionist
I have been working in the veterinary field since 1990. I started with The Cooke Veterinary Medical Center in 2014. I enjoy what I do, and continue to learn new things every day. I happily work with a great team at Cooke Vet.
Bonnie Klucz
Facilities Assistant
Bonnie joined the Cooke Vet team in 2020 after retiring from a successful teaching career with Virginia Beach City public schools. Bonnie’s love of animals and passion for helping people made this a perfect retirement opportunity for her. Bonnie has rescued many feral cats and currently has 3 house cats and one adorable rescued hound dog as her pack. Bonnie is a life long resident of Virginia Beach and is a alumni of Berea College.
Amber Wehner
Veterinary Assistant
I originally joined the Cooke team in 2016, and after a brief time with GEICO, I realized that I missed the animals too much and came back home in 2021.
I love taking care of your babies and can often be found cuddling and comforting the ones waking up from surgery. I love this field and simply adore helping animals.
We Are Actively Involved in the Community
We have a passion and love for veterinary medicine and improving the lives of pets and humans through our dedication to the following communities, which we support with our time and money:
